Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
North American Ecology (US and Canada)
- Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press.
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Distribution
Geographic Range
The range of black swallowtails (also known as American swallowtails) extends from Southern Canada, through North America, and down to South America. Included in the South American range are the West Indies. In North America, black swallowtails are not commonly found west of the Rocky Mountains.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
- Ehrlich, P. 1961. How to Know Butterflies. Dubuque, Iowa: WM. C. Brown Company Publishers.
- Neck, R. 1996. Butterflies of Texas. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing Company.
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Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) United States and southern Canada east of the Rockies; and Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, south into Mexico.
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Geographic Range
The range of black swallowtails (also known as American swallowtails) extends from Southern Canada, through North America, and down to South America. Included in the South American range are the West Indies. In North America, black swallowtails are not commonly found west of the Rocky Mountains.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
- Ehrlich, P. 1961. How to Know Butterflies. Dubuque, Iowa: WM. C. Brown Company Publishers.
- Neck, R. 1996. Butterflies of Texas. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing Company.
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National Distribution
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Adult black swallowtails range in length from seven to nine cm, and can reach a wingspan of 11.5 cm. Older larva vary from green to yellow and most often each segment is crossed by a black band. Pupae of this species can vary from green and yellow, to brown and white, to a black form.
The upper surface of an adult is black with two rows of yellow spots. In females these yellow spots are narrow and lighter, or nonexistent. On the upper surface of the adults' hind wing, there are irridescent blue spots on males and an irridescent blue band on females. On the upperside of the hindwing there is a large red spot that has a black center towards the tail. Under the forewing there are yellow spots, and on the underside of the hindwing there are a row of orange-red spots, in front of blue caps, followed by black centered red spots towards the tail.
Range length: 7 to 9 cm.
Range wingspan: 11.5 (high) cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently
- Douglas, M. 1986. The Lives of Butterflies. Rexdale, Canada: The University of Michigan Press.
- Scott, J. 1986. Butterflies of North America. Stanford, California: Stanford Press.
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Physical Description
Adult black swallowtails range in length from seven to nine cm, and can reach a wingspan of 11.5 cm. Older larva vary from green to yellow and most often each segment is crossed by a black band. Pupae of this species can vary from green and yellow, to brown and white, to a black form.
The upper surface of an adult is black with two rows of yellow spots past the middle or median of the wing. In females these yellow spots are narrow and lighter, or nonexistent as is the case in North America where they can mimic Battus philenor (pipevine swallowtails). On the upper surface of the adults' hind wing, there are irridescent blue spots on males and an irridescent blue band on females. On the upperside of the hindwing there is a large red spot that has a black center towards the tail. Under the forewing there are yellow spots, and on the underside of the hindwing there are a row of orange-red spots, in front of blue caps, followed by black centered red spots towards the tail.
Range length: 7 to 9 cm.
Range wingspan: 11.5 (high) cm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently
- Douglas, M. 1986. The Lives of Butterflies. Rexdale, Canada: The University of Michigan Press.
- Scott, J. 1986. Butterflies of North America. Stanford, California: Stanford Press.
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Ecology
Habitat
Black swallowtails tend to be found in open areas such as meadows, fields, parks, gardens, lowlands, marshes, and deserts.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland
Wetlands: marsh
- Jackman, 1998. A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing.
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Black swallowtails tend to be found in open areas such as meadows, fields, parks, gardens, lowlands, marshes, and deserts.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland
Wetlands: marsh
- Jackman, 1998. A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing.
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Comments: Almost all open spaces, including gardens, farmland, meadows, banks of watercourses; in open woodlands mostly in spring. Breeding habitats include almost any open to sparsely wooded situation with foodplant umbellifers.
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Migration
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
The larvae of American swallowtails are attracted to the oils of plants such as dill, parsley, celery, carraway and carrots. These plants have adapted to insects herbivores by producing specific chemicals that repel the insects that try to eat them. American swallowtail larvae are resistant to these chemicals and make the caterpillar bad-tasting to Aves predators. Some plants from the Umbelliferae family make psoralens that reduce growth rate and fertility in American swallowtails. The larva are most often found at small flowers. Adults feed on flower nectar and mud.
Plant Foods: leaves; nectar; flowers
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Food Habits
The larvae of American swallowtails are attracted to Umbelliferae (or Apiaceae) oils. Umbelliferae plants include dill, parsley, celery, carraway and carrots. These plants have adapted to insects herbivores by producing specific chemicals known as psoralins that repel the insects that try to eat them. American swallowtail larvae are resistant to these psoralens because their intestine and body detoxify and eliminate the toxins quickly. Psoralens make the caterpillar bad-tasting to avian predators. Some plants from the Umbelliferae family make psoralens that reduce growth rate and fertility in American swallowtails. The larva are most often found at the small umbelliferae flowers. Adults feed on flower nectar and mud.
The larvae of American swallowtails are attracted to the oils of plants such as dill, parsley, celery, carraway and carrots. These plants have adapted to insects herbivores by producing specific chemicals that repel the insects that try to eat them. American swallowtail larvae are resistant to these chemicals and make the caterpillar bad-tasting to bird predators. Some plants from the Umbelliferae family make psoralens that reduce growth rate and fertility in American swallowtails. The larva are most often found at small flowers. Adults feed on flower nectar and mud.
Plant Foods: leaves; nectar; flowers
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore , Nectarivore )
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Associations
Ecosystem Roles
These butterflies pollinate many plants. Their larvae eat many plant species. They also may provide food for many predator species.
Ecosystem Impact: pollinates
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Ecosystem Roles
These butterflies pollinate many plants. Their larvae eat many plant species. They also may provide food for many predator species.
Ecosystem Impact: pollinates
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Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300
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Life History and Behavior
Behavior
- Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press.
© Leslie Ries
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Reproduction
To find a female black swallowtail, males alternately perch on the tops of hills and then patrol in flat areas. Males defend territories of about 70 square meters where they perch and patrol. Courtship lasts for about 45 seconds,and mating follows.
Females lay round, cream-colored eggs on the leaves of Umbelliferae plants. A female black swallowtail lays on average 200 - 440 eggs, 30 - 50 per day, starting at two days after emergence from the pupal stage.
Range eggs per season: 200 to 440.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Once eggs are fertilized and laid, there is no longer any parental care.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning)
- Jackman, 1998. A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing.
- Scott, J. 1986. Butterflies of North America. Stanford, California: Stanford Press.
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To find a female black swallowtail, males alternately perch on the tops of hills and then patrol in flat areas. Males defend territories of about 70 square meters where they perch and patrol. It has been found that about 67% of their day is spent perching, 25% patrolling, 6% feeding, and lastly 2% interacting with other butterflies. The location chosen by a male can and most often does change daily. Black swallowtails mate on hilltops. Courtship lasts for about 45 seconds. The male and female will flutter near each other momentarily, fly an approximate distance of 20 meters away from where courtship started and mate after landing. The coupling lasts from 30 to 45 minutes. After a successful mating, a female must survive, temporarily avoid, and reject other courting males. Many times, if the female survives, she will mate more than once to ensure fertilization of her eggs.
Females lay round, cream-colored eggs on the leaves of Umbelliferae plants. A female black swallowtail lays on average 200 - 440 eggs, 30 - 50 per day, starting at two days after emergence from the pupal stage.
Range eggs per season: 200 to 440.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Once eggs are fertilized and laid, there is no longer any parental care.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning)
- Jackman, 1998. A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing.
- Scott, J. 1986. Butterflies of North America. Stanford, California: Stanford Press.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Papilio polyxenes
There are 2 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
-- end --
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Papilio polyxenes
Public Records: 2
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
These butterflies are widespread and do not seem to be threatened.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
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These butterflies are widespread and do not seem to be threatened.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
Other Considerations: Benefits greatly from human clearing of land.
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Threats
Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation
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Management
Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
Needs: None.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The caterpillar of this species is occasionally a pest in gardens and farms.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
These butterflies have no positive economic effect on humans.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The caterpillar of this species is occasionally a pest in gardens and farms.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
These butterflies have no positive economic effect on humans.
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Wikipedia
Papilio polyxenes
The (eastern) black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also called the American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail,[1] is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio machaon, rather than P. polyxenes.
Contents |
Description
The black swallowtail has a wingspan of 8 to 11 cm (3.1 to 4.3 in). The upper surface of the wings is mostly black. On the inner edge of the hindwing is a black spot centered in larger orange spot. A male of this species has a yellow band near edge of wings; a female has row of yellow spots. The hindwing of the female has an iridescent blue band.
In the southwestern United States, yellow forms predominate in the subspecies Papilio polyxenes coloro.
After mating, small, yellow eggs are laid, typically on plants from the carrot family, Apiaceae, including dill, fennel, Queen Anne's lace, parsley, and golden alexanders. They are also found eating rue and bishop's weed. First instar larvae grow to about 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long and resemble bird droppings. They are dark black with a white band in the middle and have spikes, with a light brown-orange ring at the base of each of the spikes in the dark region (spikes are white on the white band). Later instars grow to about 5 cm (2.0 in) and are green and black banded with yellow spots around every second black band. They have short, black spikes around some of the black bands, although these tend to disappear as the larva nears pupation.
Caterpillar and chrysalis
The black swallowtail caterpillar has an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger, the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, everts and releases a foul smell to repel predators.
The pupae may be green or brown, but not depending on surroundings or the background on which they have pupated. The color of the chrysalis is determined by a local genetic balance that ensures the majority of pupae will blend in.[2]
Similar species
- Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor)
- Spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
- Short-tailed swallowtail (Papilio brevicauda)
- White admiral (Limenitis arthemis)
Etymology
Named for a figure in Greek mythology. Polyxena (pron.: /pəˈlɪksɨnə/; Greek: Πολυξένη) was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy.
Photogallery
Laying eggs on parsley
Eggs on parsley
First instar caterpillar in northeast Georgia
These second- or third-instar larvae in northeast Georgia still have spikes.
Late-instar caterpillar (without spikes) soon ready to pupate
Osmeterium visible after slight provocation
Caterpillar color variations
Greenish-brown chrysalis
Ventral view with chrysalis
References
- ^ Castner, J.L.. "Electronic Data Information Source". Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN032. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
- ^ Black Swallowtail, Butterflies of Canada
- Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly: Large format reference quality (free) photographs Cirrus Digital Imaging
- "Papilio polyxenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=188543. Retrieved 6 February 2006.
- Burris, Judy; Richards, Wayne (2006). The Life Cycle of Butterflies. Storey Publishing. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-58017-617-0.
- Darby, Gene (1958). What is a Butterfly?. Chicago: Benefic Press. p. 36.
- Ferris, CD. and Emmel, J.F. (1982). Discussion of Papilio coloro W.G. Wright (= Papilio rudkini F. and R. Chermock) and Papilio polyxenes Fabricius. Bulletin of the Allyn Museum 76: 13 pp.
This article is adapted in part from this page at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
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Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: Former P. kahli is included here. Several subspecies are usually recognized.
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